Wednesday, September 30, 2009

For the Love of Animals

Last weekend I took a long drive for a noble cause. I don’t know how many people I know would agree but it was noble nonetheless. Because last weekend I went to give an abandoned dog a home… Anyway before I digress, like I said it was noble because here there was a beautiful little creature lying on the streets waiting for someone to take her home and sadly finding no one who could give her that. We fed her for a week and partially provided shelter but that was all we could give, what with having two well-grown obnoxious male dogs at home, hating the very sight of this angelic little creature. So then we decided to find her a home and hit a blank wall every time. We did think we made some progress when a philanthropic animal welfare organisation asked us to mention their name and tell Blue Cross to take her. Well to be honest Blue Cross agreed but didn’t turn up the following day. And when questioned simply refused to do anything about it, but they were being fair they said because they anyway planned to just sterilize the poor creature and put her back in the lane they’d picked her up from. But after frantic calls made to different animal welfare boards we managed to find one that truly believes in helping- The Animal Welfare Protection Trust run by a very kind elderly couple. Despite their age they manage a shelter that practically houses 200 dogs and 200 cats. Can you believe that number? I was genuinely humbled and donated what I could to help save that soulful-eyed little creature that knocked on our door on a rainy night. I’m sure you’re wondering what this is got to do with opportunities. Well there is certainly one lurking in this too but I’m not sure how many will be willing to take it up, because it is no easy task. While talking to the founders of The Animal Welfare Protection Trust, Mrs. Padmavathi, the wonderful lady behind this novel venture was quick to point out the lack of human support. There have always been philanthropists helping us but it would certainly be great to have people coming forward to help too. A necessity I’m sure but let’s leave their case out of this. I know it’s not easy to start a shelter but I don’t think it’s impossible; truth to this fact is this wonderful couple with limited means starting the Animal Welfare Protection Trust. In the more globally inter-connected world that we all seem to be living in, even raising awareness about animal welfare and tying-up with corporate houses should be a problem. Yes it can be quite a Herculean task but it is certainly not unworkable. Where there is a will there always has been a way… So all you people with a philanthropic-entrepreneurial spirit, I hope you’ll sleep on this and maybe, I’m hoping one of you will be able to start something that will not only be a source of revenue (we have to be practical, I agree) but let’s say I’m hoping will save the lives of at least a hundred of our more docile, unconditionally loving co-inhabitants. And like Mrs. Padmavathi says, “we’re in reality depriving animals of the environment that rightly belongs more to them than us”. Yes I think we are, so why not give something back to them in return, maybe in small measures but I’m very sure that starting something noble certainly offers a lot in return, and if you have what it take, then certainly monetary too. P.S. Speaking of animals, if you’re not looking to start a shelter I suggest you at least visit one when you can, because spending time with animals are proven to relieve stress much better than other scientific remedies that we’re more inclined towards. Trust me it works like magic! Don’t believe me? Try it yourself…

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Finding Opportunities

Practically all of us work in some way or another. Be it at home, in college (where you work towards getting enlightened in your chosen specialty), or for a social cause or for the most accepted of all at work. Yes, the remuneration varies in denomination, stature, status-quo, emotion, credibility, qualification and many other equally important and unimportant factors.
And while sitting at work wondering why I’m working and what I’m working towards achieving, I just thought why not record in writing my progression and digression from my chosen vocation….
Well, that seems to rhyme well! Anyway, like millions of other people on this planet I work for a living too and yes I’m remunerated quite well in that wonderful, enticing, magical paper that hits my account at the end of every slogged month, ensuring that I have food on the table at the end of the day. It would be a lie if I said that that’s’ all that I manage every month or that’s all I work for. Yes, there are the perks and millions of opportunities that I’m blessed with everyday to learn, unlearn, experience, contemplate, perceive and start all over again.
In the past few years I think I’ve metamorphosed into the ClickJobs' Happy Kumar. Because I’m too much in love with what I do that I just don’t even bother to look beyond my little window. There are a million little and big things that I enjoy and get from each workday. And so I was wondering what about the people who’re not really satisfied and hope to catch hold of that elusive opportunity that practically eludes them everyday…
I have a great job but I’m not too sure that the person sitting right next to me feels the same way about his job. That’s when I got thinking (a rare occurrence) why not start a blog where I’m hoping a lot of like-minded and far-more enlightened people can share their opinion about their experiences at work. Or even help people like me look beyond our chosen paths and maybe help find the perfect opportunity. I know it’s always there somewhere, right in front of our eyes but we rarely notice it…
So here am I, the Career Window, opening up my little window for the very first time, almost in rapturous joy waiting to take a peek at what I will find beyond the window to opportunities that I’ve just opened.